Are you looking for a career in dentistry that provides flexible work hours and varied employment opportunities? Do you enjoy one-on-one interactions with individuals where you can use education to improve their health?
If you're passionate about helping others achieve better oral health, we want to help you turn that passion into a rewarding career as a dental hygienist. A dental hygienist is a vital member of the dental health team as this person provides preventive dental services and oral health education to patients.
All students interested in this program must begin in the Pre-Health Professions Program. Then, students may apply for admission into this program once they meet the requirements to apply. Students will discuss these admission requirements as part of their advising process.
Find your state's license and certification requirements.
By earning an Associate in Science (AS) in dental hygiene, you will be prepared to enter the workforce as a dental hygienist. You will be able to work in private offices or public health clinics.
You may be suited for this program and career if you:
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Our dental hygiene program contains coursework that covers:
As you complete our program, you will:
Our program is selective, which means your admission into HACC does not guarantee admission into the program. Before you begin the clinical portion of our program, you must complete and pay for the following tests and complete other criteria:
Pennsylvania Dental Law #216 states that the State Board of Dentistry may refuse to license a person who has a crime or misdemeanor conviction involving a morally corrupt act or a felony.
Please visit the health careers section of our website or email us for more information on the program admission requirements.
Our program is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CoDA), which is a specialized body recognized by the US Department of Education.
Affordably YOURS, our two-year degree program is a transfer program. We designed our programs to be flexible enough to transfer to a wide variety of four-year colleges and universities with no loss of credit. If your intended transfer school participates in Pennsylvania’s statewide college credit transfer system, you will be able to begin at the junior level. Our programs also transfer well to schools outside of the statewide system. However, each individual college has its own unique program. We encourage you to select a four-year school as soon as possible. This will allow you to learn the transfer college’s program requirements so you can take the proper classes at HACC.
| Pennsylvania College of Technology: | Dental Hygiene (A.S.) (pdf) |
| Saint Francis University - Francis Worldwide: | Dental Hygiene (A.S.) (pdf) |
You may complete the entire program at our Harrisburg Campus by taking some courses through virtual learning. Clinical rotations are assigned within 85 miles of the Harrisburg Campus.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, please visit this webpage to review the most up-to-date details about how courses are being offered.
Yes! Thanks to the HACC Foundation, scholarships are available. Please visit hacc.edu/scholarships to learn how you can apply.
We offer courses in the spring, summer and fall, and you can apply anytime. When enrolling into the Dental Hygiene Program, you must apply to the non-clinical component of the program first. Therefore, please use the program code 3416 to make sure your application is for the correct program.
To request more information about earning this associate degree, please contact an admissions counselor or email us at start@hacc.edu.
“HACC has just been a great experience because the staff and everyone are so welcoming and warming and they just encourage you to pursue your dreams.”